World's Poorest Countries

The rankings below were published in the United Nation's 2011 Human Development Report and reflect the countries with the lowest human development.

1. Congo (Democratic Republic of the)

22. Rwanda

2. Niger

23. Djibouti

3. Burundi

24. Zambia

4. Mozambique

25. Comoros

5. Chad

26. Togo

6. Liberia

27. Uganda

7. Burkina Faso

28. Lesotho

8. Sierra Leone

29. Mauritania

9. Central African Republic

30. Haiti

10. Guinea

31. Nepal

11. Eritrea

32. Nigeria

12. Guinea-Bissau

33. Senegal

13. Mali

34. Yemen

14. Ethiopia

35. Papua New Guinea

15. Zimbabwe

36. Tanzania, United Republic of

16. Afghanistan

37. Madagascar

17. Malawi

38. Cameroon

18. Côte d'lvoire

39. Myanmar

19. Sudan

40. Angola

20. Gambia

41. Timor-Leste

21. Benin

42. Bangladesh

Trends among the world's poorest countries

Since 1970, there has been encouraging news emerging from developing
countries. According to the UN's 2011 Human Development Report, life
expectancy in developing countries had increased from 59 years in 1970 to 70 years in
2010. School enrollment climbed from 55% to 70% of all primary and secondary
school-age children. Also, in the last forty years, per capita GDP doubled to more than ten thousand U.S.
dollars.

The World's average Human Development Index (HDI), which combines information on life
expectancy, schooling and income, has increased 19% since 1990 (and 41% since 1970). This reflects large improvements in life expectancy, school enrollment, literacy, and income. Almost every country has benefited from this progress. Only three countries had a lower HDI in 2010 than in 1970. Those three countries were Zimbabwe, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Poor countries are catching up with the wealthier countries, but not all countries made fast progress. For example, the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have progressed slowly, largely due to the HIV epidemic. Countries in the former Soviet Union have been held back by an increase in adult mortality.

To illustrate the income inequality between rich and poor countries,
consider these facts: about 1.75 billion people live in multi-dimensional poverty, meaning
extreme deprivation in education, health, and standard of living; 1.44 billion people
out of the developing world's 6.9 billion people live on $1.25 per day; 2.6 billion people are estimated to
be living on less than $2 a day. Multidimensional poverty varies by region from three percent in Europe and
Central Asia to 65% in Sub-Saharan Africa.